New Orleans, LA (My Sportsbook) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, as the Trail Blazers came away with an 86-78 win over the Hornets in Jeff Bower's head coaching debut.

New Orleans fired Byron Scott after a 3-6 start to the season, and Bower added the head coaching gig to his general manager title. The new regime didn't get off to a good start, especially as All-Star point guard Chris Paul left late in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.

Brandon Roy added 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Portland, which won its previous four games by double digits. Andre Miller and Joel Przybilla chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the win.

Marcus Thornton led the Hornets with 20 points, while David West contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause.

An ugly first half couldn't have ended any quicker for both clubs. The teams combined to shoot 10-for-46 from the field in the first quarter, with Portland holding a 14-12 lead after 12 minutes.

The second stanza wasn't much better offensively, but the visitors scored seven of the quarter's final eight points to take a 37-33 lead at the break.

Back-to-back layups from Miller ended a 9-0 run to start the third quarter. Portland kept the hosts at bay, and the Hornets' chances of winning diminished significantly after Paul went down with the Hornets trailing 65-54 with a quarter to play.

Darren Collison, who scored 18 points, hit two free throws to pull the hosts within 72-63 with seven minutes left, but six straight Portland points -- the last four from Greg Oden -- ended the comeback bid.

Game Notes

Oden finished with eight points and 12 rebounds for Portland, which won the battle on the glass, 60-40...Paul ended with eight assists and three points on 1-of-8 shooting before leaving early...Peja Stojakovic had just two points on 1-of-7 shooting for New Orleans.